Moments before the Rockies' home opener Monday, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki received his Gold Glove award for defensive excellence in 2011. Cheers from the sellout crowd of 49,282 at Coors Field washed over him.

Those cheers turned to jeers as the Rockies came undone by sloppy defense in their 7-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

In the Giants' three-run fifth inning, left fielder Carlos Gonzalez jogged in on Aubrey Huff's shallow pop fly to left and promptly dropped the ball. Two batters later, Angel Pagan grounded to Tulowitzki deep in the hole at short. But Tulo, trying for the force at second base, threw a one-hopper to Marco Scutaro, who couldn't handle the throw. The two miscues loaded the bases and the Giants' Brandon Crawford cleared them with a three-run double. What was supposed to be Purple Monday was quickly lost in a purple haze.

The Denver Post's Troy E. Renck adds analysis, notes and more to this blog dedicated to the Colorado Rockies.

For a team that prides itself on defense — and played crisp baseball through most of spring training — the Rockies are off to a rocky start at 1-3. They committed three errors Saturday in a 7-3 loss at Houston. The next day, third baseman Jordan Pacheco's throwing error in a 3-2 loss to the Astros was a killer mistake that allowed the tying run to score with two out in the eighth.

"I still think we are going to be really good defensive team, but it's something I think we need to take pride in," Tulowitzki said. "Once you make an error here and there, and especially one that costs you a game, you start to think about it. I think that's maybe the case right now."

For the record, Tulowitzki didn't think he deserved an error on the throw to Scutaro.

"It was a tough play. I'm surprised I got an error," Tulowitzki said. "It was a ball in the hole and a jump throw. I gave it a chance."

Scutaro is trying to make the transition to starting at second base after playing shortstop for the Boston Red Sox last season. It hasn't been smooth so far.

Marco Scutaro bobbles a throw while trying to get Aubrey Huff out at second during the first inning for Colorado in the Rockies' home opener against the San Francisco Giants. More photos. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Saturday at Houston, with the Astros leading 1-0 in the fourth, Brian Bixler hit a slow roller to third baseman Chris Nelson. He fielded the ball cleanly but fired wide of Todd Helton at first base. Scutaro retrieved the ricochet and bounced a one-hopper off Bixler's back at second. Scutaro later said he should have held on to the ball. Those errors set up a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez off Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer.

Moments later, Scutaro committed another error when he couldn't handle a grounder loaded with spin.

But Scutaro said he's perfectly comfortable playing second base.

Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez drops a shallow pop fly hit by the Giants' Aubrey Huff in the fifth inning of the Rockies' home opener Monday. Defense hasn't been the Rockies' strong suit in their 1-3 start to the season.

"I feel OK. I feel good there," he said after Monday's game. "Those are things that are going to happen no matter what. We will be good defensively. Sometimes you get in a slump offensively and sometimes you get in a slump defensively too. You just have to turn the page and keep working."

Manager Jim Tracy said he's confident Scutaro will shine at second base. He did say, however, that the slow pace of Monday's game, bogged down by five walks from Jhoulys Chacin, contributed to the Rockies' fielding woes.

"Tone to a game and tempo to a game is very important, and the tempo we set in the early part of the game was not good," Tracy said. "When you are standing out there defensively, and you are throwing ball after ball after ball, it has a tendency to put you on your heels."

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